iMatch equivalent for Photomechanic code replacement

[Martin P Wilson]

The prodigal son is in the process of returning to the iMatch fold, I used it probably 15 years or more ago In the interim I went elsewhere but they have become so expensive I cannot justify the annual cost (CaptureOne and PhotoMechanic). I have also been tied up with doing a PhD so doing much less photography.

I will really miss PhotoMechanic especially its code replacement capability but it has doubled in cost. When I covered sports events I could set up all the teams and players beforehand in text file and then as I processed the pictures between races/ events I would enter them as a shortcode into the metadata that PM replaced with the full text. For example '/MB44' would become 'Mercedes-Benz, Lewis Hamilton' - I would also set up the event and  other details in a template that would propogate using variables into the IPTC headline in the form my agency required.

IPTC metadata handling is the key issue for me. Can I do something similar in iMatch, perhaps using scripting?

I will be downloading the trial this evening to try it out, but I would appreciate it if someone could get me started. I always felt iMatch was good but never really had the time to get properly to grips with it especially as Pm was so good. I am thinking I will use it with DxO Photolab which seems to be a favoured combination.

[Mario]

This sounds like something you would do with Metadata Templates or AutoFill.

You can trigger templates and AutoFill via Favorites, which allows you to apply them with a single click or a custom keyboard shortcut. Or, for the most frequently used items, you can just add them to the File Window ribbon.

When I understand your "code replacement" thing correctly. You select something or type in something somewhere and then PM fills multiple metadata tags in legacy IPTC or modern XMP IPTC tags.
This is how you "trigger" AutoFill by typing into one of the tags you have used: AutoFill

Both AutoFill and Metadata Templates support Variables for dynamic on-the-fly content generation, copying of metadata between tags (e.g. copy camera make/model/serial into the tag your agency requires) and more.

Tip: For stationary data like copyright info, legal, usage restrictions, storing camera make/model in keywords etc, you can also use Metadata Templates and make IMatch apply them when it ingests new or updated images.
You can trigger different templates for files you have marked as read-only in camera, which thus can be used to process keepers in a different way.

To rename files and distribute them into date-based or camera-based folders, use the Renamer.
You can run a Renamer preset when new files come into the database, to automatically rename them and move them into date-based folders, for example.

I have not used PM in more than a decade (I have IMatch  ) but these features should get you a long way.

[Martin P Wilson]

Thanks Mario, that information is very useful. Variables looks exactly like what I need and currently use for creating Headline, Title, Description.

Autofill is close, I need to play with that but you have given an invaluable starting point. Saved me quite a lot of time, thanks.

Of course there is a lot more to explore.

Regards

Martin

[Stenis]

Thanks Mario, that information is very useful. Variables looks exactly like what I need and currently use for creating Headline, Title, Description.

Autofill is close, I need to play with that but you have given an invaluable starting point. Saved me quite a lot of time, thanks.

Of course there is a lot more to explore.

Regards

Martin

Hi Martin and Mario too!

Martin, I started to evaluate iMatch really seriously a few weeks ago of about the same reasons as you and I'm coming from almost the same program environment as you - PhotoMechanic Plus (over four years), DXO Photolab / Optics Pro (over 10 years) and Capture One (over 10 years).

I started with a testmigration of all my ready made images - about 18 0000. Even tested to migrate my non-structured keywords. Of some reason batchupdated images have lost all "Description"-data which might be a PM problem. PM is far behind iMatch when it comes to metadata support. IMatch is XMP from the bottom and PM is not. It is essentially still IPTC internalky and convets exports to XMP and so does Photolab. So I guess CameraBits sooner or later has to rewrite the whole application but not very much seemms to happen.

What I have found is that iMatch is a far more modern, competent and smart application than PM but it comes with a much steaper lerning curve if your intention is too get as productive as with PM. PM is much easier to understand and the most is pretty obvious but I have not found that us the case with iMatch.

It has taken me weeks to get close to as produktive with iMatch as I gave been with everyday tasks and functions in Photolab. I have had problems with as simple things in PM as to copy metadata from one record to another say from a RAW to its JPEG-derivates or vise versa using just the keyboard. The lost Descriptions I have already mentioned.

The face recognition took me some reading to understand. Guessing was no success. It almost made me crazy. It took some reading to understannd how Forms or Layouts are working and how to modify them. So with Autofill and Variables too.

A simple thing like copying and pasting metadata efficiently took me weeks (when I tried it resulted in a copied image instead ofcthe metadata)

Beeing able to integrate PM efficiently with Photolab has been a must that first did't work with PM without CameraBits having to tweek a few things. I didn't first succeed either by my owm with iMatch and Photolab without helt from one of the users.

So what I have learned now the hard way is that I really have to study the manual - always! Without reading it I had never succeded even with such a basic thing as copying the metadata from one image to another withot using the mouse. Mario have also been very patient and very helpful - there is no support out there more quick, responsive and accurate.

Coming from PhotoMechanic I think I will be able to do precisely everything I can and much more too but often in a very different and often smarter BUT not always all that obvious way at a first glance. I'm sure you will be able to use variables to achive the same effects like with "replace" in PM but it might not bee as effectice since there is a whole culture for PM Plus when it comes to that.

But what PM totally lacks is the new AI-supported generation of Descriptions and Keywords that is absolutely remarkable and effective as soon as one learn to master the AI promts for OpenAI as I use.

Slowly I start to feel at home.

[Mario]

The face recognition took me some reading to understand. Guessing was no success. It almost made me crazy. It took some reading to understannd how Forms or Layouts are working and how to modify them. So with Autofill and Variables too.

Did the tutorial video not work for you? There are many tutorial videos for free in the IMatch Learning Center.

I have had problems with as simple things in PM as to copy metadata from one record to another say from a RAW to its JPEG-derivates

You don't do this by hand in IMatch. You make the RAW the master and the derivatives the versions and IMatch automatically propagates (copies) metadata for you.

Copying metadata by hand can be done occasionally when needed in a special case. And when you do it so often that you find it burdensome to click with the mouse, chances are you are doing it wrong.

What I have learned from your other posts is that you try to overcome the "missing description" effect caused by PM (presumably) by manually copying the description between files. Instead of figuring out what the problem is and fixing it. I did offer you to look at the metadata PM produced in the other thread where you mention the same thing, but so far I got nothing to work with. IMatch does not lose descriptions, else this board would be full of complaints.

thing as copying the metadata from one image to another withot using the mouse.

This is because you make assumption about how things are "supposed to work" and then are disappointed.
IMatch does a lot more than PM. This includes, that Copy & Paste is implemented with different outcomes in different parts of the program (File Windows, tree controls, panels, ...).

There is not just one Ctrl + C in IMatch which always means "Copy metadata into the clipboard". But that's your expectation.
Copy & Paste is an universal concept in Windows, and IMatch employs it to copy files, folders, categories, images, metadata, keywords, attributes - always depending on which feature you are currently working with.

You cannot copy metadata with Ctrl + C while the File Window is active. Because the File Window uses Copy & Paste to copy or move any number of files in the Media & Folders View. And the File Window in the Categories View uses it to copy & move files between categories. And in the Even View it is used to copy and move files between Events.

You can copy & paste metadata in all Views. Just make sure the Metadata Panel is the active panel so Windows knows where to send the Ctr + C hotkey. Or the Ctrl + V hotkey for Paste.